01
wenden
to turn over
To turn something onto the other side.
example
Du musst den Pfannkuchen jetzt wenden, sonst brennt er an.
You need to turn the pancake over now, or it will burn.
wenden
to turn / contact
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Common mistake
'Wenden' (to turn/contact) has two past-tense forms. For concrete actions (turning something over), the regular form 'wendete' is usually used. For abstract or reflexive meanings ('sich an jemanden wenden' — to contact someone), the irregular form 'wandte' is common.
EXAMPLE
Der Koch wendete das Steak in der Pfanne.
The cook turned the steak over in the pan.
Reflexive vs. non-reflexive
Without 'sich', 'wenden' (to turn) means that you turn an object around (e.g. a car). With 'sich', it means that the subject itself changes direction or contacts someone.
EXAMPLE
Der Fahrer muss hier wenden, die Straße ist gesperrt.
The driver has to turn around here; the road is closed.
Sentence structure and usage pattern
When 'wenden' means 'to contact', it is always reflexive and is used with the fixed preposition 'an' and the accusative: 'sich an jemanden wenden' (to contact someone).
EXAMPLE
Wenden Sie sich mit Ihrer Beschwerde bitte schriftlich an die Geschäftsleitung.
Please address your complaint in writing to the management.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'etwas wendet sich zum Guten/Schlechten' (something takes a turn for the better/worse) is very common. It describes a situation developing in a positive or negative direction.
EXAMPLE
Alle dachten, wir verlieren das Spiel, aber am Ende hat sich alles zum Guten gewendet.
Everyone thought we were going to lose the game, but in the end everything took a turn for the better.
Typical collocations
In the kitchen, the verb is often used with 'den Pfannkuchen' (the pancake), 'das Omelett' (the omelet), or 'das Fleisch' (the meat). You can also turn a page in a book or turn over a sheet of paper.
EXAMPLE
Er wendete das Fleisch auf dem Grill, damit es nicht verbrennt.
He turned the meat over on the grill so that it wouldn't burn.
Compare with
wenden vs drehen
to turn / film
'drehen' and 'wenden' both have to do with movement into a different direction or position. 'drehen' usually means that something moves around an axis, for example a wheel, a key, or the head. 'wenden' often means turning something over onto the other side or reversing direction, for example a car, a sheet of paper, or a piece of meat in a pan. The words can be confused because both involve a kind of turning movement. If something is simply rotating, 'drehen' fits. If it ends up the other way around or goes in the opposite direction afterward, 'wenden' is better.
wenden
Vor der Brücke wendet er das Auto, weil die Straße gesperrt ist.
Before the bridge, he turns the car around because the road is closed.
drehen
Zum Öffnen musst du den Schlüssel langsam nach rechts drehen.
To open it, you have to slowly turn the key to the right.
In real life
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